Animating Characters [AnimSchool]
- Publisher
- AnimSchool
- Product Type
- Video Course
- Product URL
- https://animschool.edu/AnimationProgram.aspx
- Author
- AnimSchool
- Language
- English (English sub)
- Duration
- 75:07
- Release date
- Oct 1, 2020
- Skill level
- Project Files
- Yes
- Product Price
- $1620
Duration: 11 Weeks
This isn't a theory-heavy lecture series. It's a practical, assignment-driven course where you'll spend most of your time actually animating. Each module builds on the last, pushing you to handle more complex body mechanics while keeping your characters clear and appealing.The instructors, Kelly Vawter and Morgan Greene, bring different perspectives to the table. You'll see how they approach blocking, how they think about weight and balance, and how they troubleshoot common issues like stiff spines or floaty feet. The recorded sessions include live demonstrations and extensive student critiques, so you get a real sense of what professional feedback looks like—and what mistakes to avoid.
A big chunk of the course is dedicated to the walk cycle, and for good reason. It's the foundation of locomotion. You'll break it down into contact, passing, and up poses, then work on the subtle shifts in the hips and shoulders that make a walk feel natural. From there, you'll move into the walk-to-stop, which forces you to think about deceleration and settling. Finally, the heavy object interaction ties it all together—it's the ultimate test of weight, anticipation, and counterbalance.
By the end, you'll have a workflow you can rely on. Blocking, breakdowns, spline, polish—you'll know how to move through each stage without losing the life of your shot. And you'll have three solid pieces for your reel.
About the Author
Kelly Vawter is a professional character animator with years of experience in feature animation. He's known for his strong sense of posing and weight, and he's taught at AnimSchool for multiple terms, helping students develop clean, appealing animation.Morgan Greene brings a background in both animation and teaching, with a focus on body mechanics and performance. His critiques are known for being direct and practical, pushing students to think about the why behind every pose.
Both instructors have worked on studio productions and bring that industry perspective into the classroom. They don't just tell you what to fix—they show you how to fix it and why it matters.
What you'll learn
- Create a full-body biped walk cycle with believable weight and rhythm
- Animate a walk-to-stop sequence with natural deceleration and balance
- Block and refine a heavy object interaction with proper body mechanics
- Apply anticipation, secondary action, and motivated movement to your shots
- Use blocking, breakdowns, and spline workflows to take a shot from start to finish
- Polish your animation with attention to hands, eyes, and subtle gestures
Part of a 3D Animation Program - Bundle [AnimSchool]
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Update: The course files are being processed and will be available on GBC in approximately 12 hours.